Glendale officer dragged after hand stuck in car window

Glendale police say a 24-year-old woman who dragged a veteran officer alongside her car when his hand got stuck in her window was under the influence of drugs at the time.

Amanda Geampa, of Glendale, was allegedly speeding in a four-door car Tuesday when she refused to stop for Glendale police near 56th and Glendale avenues, said Sgt. Jim Cunningham, a spokesman for the police department.

Police followed the car until the intersection of 67th and Grand avenues. The car came to a stop.

When Officer Jaime Nowatzki, a 28-year veteran of the department, got out of his car and walked up to Geampa's car, his hand apparently became lodged in the window and she drove away, pulling him to the ground, Cunningham said.

Nowatzki eventually became free. It is unclear how long he was dragged or how he escaped.

He was taken to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries, Cunningham said.

Geampa sped off again and police later found the vehicle around 91st Avenue and Cactus Road, Cunningham said.
Police were able to stop the car and take Geampa into custody.

Geampa has previously pleaded guilty to reckless driving and completed a defensive driving course for running a stop sign.